Fence-post.



no MODEL.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 24, 1903.

PATENTED AUG. 11. 1903.

J. & W. H. BEAZLEY.

FENCE POST.

4 D Windows gmcmonmhb UNITED STATES Patented August 11, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN BEAZLEY, OF LAPORTE, AND WILLIAM H. BEAZLEY, OF SHEPHERD, TEXAS.

POST.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 736,058, dated August 11, 1903.

Application filed March 24, 1903.

To a. whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, JOHN BEAZLEY, residing at Laporte, Harris county, and WIL- LIAM H. BEAZLEY, residing at Shepherd, in the county of San J acinto, State of Texas, citizens of the United States, have invented cer tain new and useful Improvements in Telegraph, Telephone, and Fence Posts; and we do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in fence or other posts and bases therefor, and especially telegraph and telephone posts;

The object of the invention is to provide a post so constructed that a minimum amount of lumber will be used and a maximum amount of strength maintained.

A further object is to provide a base for such a post which will hold the post supported above the surface of the ground, thus preventing early decay, which ordinarily occurs when the post is embedded in the ground, and which will at the same time allow per feet drainage and prevent uprooting of the post by frost.

A further object is to provide a construction of base by which decayed posts, ordinarily unavailable for further use, may be made available for use for an indefinite period by simply sawing off the rotted ends of the same and applying my improved base.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a metallic post-base which is simple in construction and may be manufactured and sold at a comparatively low cost.

With these and other objects in view the invention consists of certain novel features of construction, combination, and arrangement of parts, as will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed, reference being had to the acoompanyingdrawings, in which Figure 1 is an elevation of a fence-post embodying our invention, showing the base embedded to support the post in position. Fig. 2 is ahorizontal section on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a similar view on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a similar view on the line 4 4 of Fig. 1; Fig. 5, a bottom plan view of the Serial No.'149,340. (No model.)

base, and Fig. 6 is a detail view of one of the sections forming the base.

In the drawings, 1 denotes a post, formed, preferably, of sawed lumber of known durability, and consists of a main piece 2, which may be two inches or more in thickness and twelve inches, more or less, in width at its lower end and gradually tapering to half this width at its upper end. To each side of the piece 2 are spiked, bolted, or otherwise fastened supplemental pieces 3, which are of the same thickness as the piece 2 and of such Width throughouttheir length as to correspond with the width and shape of the projecting sides of the piece 2, thus forming a post the shape of which in horizontal section is that of a Greek cross. It will be seen that a post so constructed will possess great strength and rigidity, while at the same time using much less material than a solid post of any shape or construction.

In the angles formed by thejuncture of the pieces 3 and the piece 2 at the lower end of the post are inserted blocks 4, which are adapted to fit within said angles and engage opposite faces of said pieces. The blocks 4 may be spiked, bolted, or otherwise secured in place and extend upwardly a foot or more above the lower end of the post and securely brace the pieces 2 and 3 and hold them in proper position. Thelower ends of the pieces 2 and 3 are ripped upwardly a suitable distance to form slots or kerfs 5, which cross each other at right angles for a purpose hereinafter to appear.

The base of the post is constructed of two sections 6'and 7, of heavy sheet metal bent longitudinally into angular form, preferably V shape, and placed back to back with their folded portions in contact, the longitudinal sides thence projecting radially to form a series of wings 8, giving the base acorrugated structure in horizontal section. The lower ends of the wings thus formed are adapted to rest upon a base-plate 9, preferably though not necessarily circular in shape. The said wings may be united to the base-plate in any preferred manner. In the present instance they are shown secured together by means of tongues 8, formed on the lower ends of the wings 8, near the outer edge of the same, and which pass downwardly through slits 9', formed in base-plate 9, and are then bent upwardly against the under side of said baseplate. The base is united to the post by forcing the upper ends of the wings 8 to the basesections into the radially-disposed slots or kerfs 5, formed in the lower end of the post, and to hold the sections in the 'said slots against displacement the upper ends of the outer edges of the wings are angularly bent, as shown at 10, to lie against the outer surface of the post. Bearing against these bent or folded portions is a clamping band or ring 12, which surrounds the post and holds the wings securely united thereto, thus preventing casual disconnection of the post from the base. The clamping-band is formed to correspond with the shape given to the lower end of the post and, as shown, in the present instance is in form of a solid band wedged down upon the post to engage the said angularlybent portions 10.

As shown in Fig. 1, the base of the post is embedded in the ground with the lower end of the post above the surface, whereby the post will be securely anchored without embedding any portion of the same, so that all liability of decay or rotting away of any portion of the post, such as ordinarily occurs when the lower end of the post is embedded in the ground, will be efiectually avoided. By this means we are enabled to dispense with the use of the protective appliances commonly employed and to mount the post in such manner that it will serve without deterioration for a practically indefinite period.

By the construction of the base of two sections of sheet metal in the manner shown it may not only be cheaply manufactured, but is adapted to be firmly retained in place, as the wings will prevent it from having any turning movement, while the base-plate will prevent uprooting of the posts by frost or other climatic changes or disturbances.

If it should be desired at any time to substitute a more ornamental post for that in use, this may be readily effected by simply releasing the clamping-band and drawing the post upward out of engagement with the Wings, whereupon the slotted end of the new post may be slipped in position upon the base and the ring applied to hold it secure.

While we have shownand described the post as formed of separate pieces connected together in the form of a cross and tapered toward the upper end, it is obvious that we may construct a post of a solid piece'of tiniber of round, square, or any desired shape and apply the herein-described base to the same in the manner shown. It will also be obvious that we may construct a post in the manner described that will be suitable for use as fence-posts, telegraph-poles, and all supports wherein a strong, durable, and lasting post is desired and that a post so conreacts structed insures lightness and easy handling, which, together with the other advantages herein enumerated, provides a general-purpose post of great merit.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it is thought that the construction, operation, and advantages of our improved fence-post will be readily apparent without requiring a more extended explanation.

Various changes in the form, proportion, and, the minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In combination with a post having radial slots at its lower end, a post-base comprising sections of sheet metal having wings connected at their lower ends and fitted at their upper ends in said radial slots, the outer edges of the upper ends of the wings projecting from said slots and bent to lie against the surface of the post, and means engaging the bent portions of the wings for retaining said wings in position in the slot.

2. A fence or other post, comprising a main upright tapered piece, and two similarly-tapered side pieces fixed one on each side to said main piece and centrally disposed and projecting laterally therefrom, to form in cross-section substantially a Greek cross, blocks fitted within the angles formed by said pieces at the lower end of the post, and radial slots formed in the lower end of said post, in combination with a base provided with wings fitted in said slots and bent at an angle to lie against the outer surface of the post, means for retaining said wings in position in the slots, and means for uniting the lower ends of said wings, substantially as described.

3. A base for posts, (250., comprising two angularly bent sheet metal members placed back to back and forming wings, the lower ends of said wings being provided with tongues, a base-plate provided with openings through which the tongues are passed, thereby connecting the lower ends of the wings to a common base member, and means for connecting the upper ends of the wings to a post, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto set our hands in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN BEAZLEY. WVILLIAM H. BEAZLEY.

Witnesses to the signature of John Beazley:

O. W. PALMER,

J. E. DORJEN. 1 Witnesses to the signature of W. H. Beaz- O. E. TRIBE,

A. A. RARTIN.

ICO 

